More than 100 middle and high school students gathered at Picatinny Arsenal Friday to take part in the Second Annual Pumpkin-Sling competition.

The students built trebuchets as a way to learn physics and engineering skills. There was a competition to see who could launch their pumpkins the farthest. The STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students designed the devices, which launched pumpkins into a nearby lake.

The student says that they loved getting out of the classroom and putting their knowledge to use.

“I think this way I learned a lot more than I was going to learn just looking at a board,” says Livingston High School student Kishan Sojaitara.

Officials at Picatinny say that the event is a great way for students to learn what type of careers they may be able to get in STEM fields.

"There is an end to this mission. There is an end. You go to school you become an engineer, you become a scientist. And one day can come here and work for us,” says Shahram Babiri.

Morris Knolls High School took first place in the competition.